Bars For Sam

[Richard Borneman]

I have a 62cm Sam frame that I built up with Drop bars (Noodles) and it just felt too big for me. I Was going to sell it but I'm thinking maybe I should try some more upright bars before I let it go.

 I am 6'-02" with a 93cm PBH. I have a 64 cm MIT Atlantis and a 64cm Rambo that are very comfortable for me with 10cm stem and Noodle bars.

 The effective TT length is 61.5 on the Sam frame opposed to 59-60 on the other two frames. Thinking I'd like to try Bosco or Choco bars and a shorter stem.

 I have always used drop bars. Have a set of Moustache bars that I tried and couldn't get comfortable with. I would like to have a flat section close to the stem so the 2 bars I mentioned look like they are the ones to try.

Anyone else gone through this when trying to get comfortable on the newer sloped top tube Riv frames?

 Anybody have some wide Choco or Bosco bars they want to sell or trade?

I have a like new Moustache and some Noodle bars to swap.

Richard Borneman

[Jason Fuller]

Hi Richard - since I don't fit a 62, I can offer an impartial opinion ;)

I run Noodles on my Sam but required a 5cm stem for the fit to be right. Some would say that needing such a short stem means the bike doesn't fit me but I wholeheartedly disagree - the short stem gives it a longer wheelbase and longer front-center compared to a "standard road fit" and this benefits its mixed-surface capabilities undoubtedly. 

If you wanted to retain some of the road type fit you could try the Albastache - probably also on a fairly short stem, but about 2-3cm longer than what a Noodle would use to get you the reach you're after (I think), so might work well with your existing stem.  

The Choco is a beautiful bar too, though you might need a long stem to get the fit right.  Worth trying though!  Since the Sam's geometry is sort of a hybrid between drop and upright bar geometries, I'm betting you are right to try it with an upright bar - but if you can just go shorter on the stem, I think that's worth exploring too 

[Ben Mihovk]

Hey Richard!
I really like Chocos for what you're describing. They have a great flat next-to-stem position you mentioned, as well as a really nice position around the bends that is kind of like the hoods on drops. Then you have your nice upright position on the grips, too. I have Chocos on my MIT Atlantis, and I use all three positions (though I usually split time between using the grips and the bends). 

When you say the bike is too big, I'm assuming you just feel too stretched out horizontally. If that's the case, I like what Jason did with a shorter stem. I'm very similar to your build (93.5 PBH, 6'3") and I have a 62cm Sam with a 9cm stem and Noodles and I feel like it's just perfect. I know geometries might not be exactly the same on our Sams and I do have long arms and am a touch taller...but if you could get the bars 4-5 cm closer, do you think that'd do the trick?

Good luck! 

Ben

[David Person]

6’-2” with 95cm PBH.  62cm Sam (2015 model).  Started with Nitto drops with 100mm Tallis.  Switched to Albatross bars pretty quickly, same stem.  Recently switched to Choco bars with 110mm Nitto Fillet FacePlater stem.  I have the Choco bars mounted ‘upside down’ as I like the angle it places my wrists in.  My preferred hand location is at or ahead of the brake levers.  Needed the FacePlater stem to keep the bars (at the grips) at the same height as the Alba/Tallux combination.  

[Joe Bernard]

If the Sam is just a smidge long in the cockpit with Noodles then I wouldn't go shorter on the stem for pullback bars, the reach is VERY different from drops. If you have a 26.0 stem clamp now you can mount a 25.4 Bosco or Choco with a shim. This will give a good starting point without buying a new stem, you'll know pretty quick if you need longer or shorter.

Joe Bernard

[Richard Borneman]

Thanks for the input. Think I'm going to try some Choco bars. Probably won't get built back up until this winter some time. 

Heading up to the Philly Bike Expo this morning. Looking forward to talking with the folks from Rivendell and looking at all the other cool bikes and gear. 

Richard Borneman

[velomann]

Here's my own personal experience based on one year of riding my latest model Sam, size 51cm.

I'm 5'8" with a PBH of 80 and normal reach proportions for my height. I set up my bike with Boscos on the Nitto open faceplate stem in the longest ength available (135?) based on Will's recommendation, as well as Kevin at Golden Pliers. The fit was great, not stretched out at all, as upright as I wanted, and the center of the bar offers a good widish spot for stretching out if I want to get more aero.

This summer I got the itch to make the bike more road bike-ish as I was intending to do some longer gravel rides with it. So I swapped the Boscos out for 46cm Noodles on a 100mm Technomic stem (what I had available.) I rode it that way for a few months, but felt just a bit stretched out - a 70-80 stem would probably have been better and I ordered an 80. However, before I made that swap I had an experience on a 35 mile hilly gravel ride that made me realize the Noodles did not give me the same level of control and comfort I felt with the Boscos and I've now happily switched back to the original setup. At some point in the future I may try out Noodles again on a shorter stem because I'm curious if that would feel significantly different. I'm also curious how it would feel with Tosco bars, as the Boscos are almost too much bar regarding rise and flare.

Mike M

On Saturday, November 6, 2021 at 12:10:48 PM UTC-7 rsb...@msn.com wrote: